Pared-down Tigard parks bond gets more specific

View full sizeBrent Wojahn / The Oregonian
A 20-acre property east of Sunrise Lane in Tigard is among those that would be purchased for a new park, should voters approve the city's $17 million bond measure next month. A similar measure for $20 million failed last year.

That proved problematic last year when the city put a similar $20 million bond to voters. That unsuccessful attempt aimed mostly to secure funds for new parkland, but city leaders couldn't say exactly what land they hoped to buy.

Rogers explained the problem this way: Identifying properties too early can jeopardize a deal before it's done or send prices through the roof. So the city held its cards close. Voters narrowly rejected the measure.

The city hopes to avoid that downfall this time with a pared-down version. Leaders have pointed to two spots the city holds options on and could purchase for new parks -- assuming the bond passes.

One sits off Southwest Tigard Street near Fowler Middle School -- close to another property the city plans to purchase regardless of next month's outcome. "Fowler Phase II" is a group of three more parcels totaling five acres that would cost a combined $1.5million.

The other target is the 20-acre "Sunrise property" to the east of Sunrise Lane in west Tigard. About $5 million in bond money would go toward that purchase, according to the city.

"That's the gem," Rogers said of the Sunrise land.

Rogers acknowledged that lack of specificity wasn't the only factor that led voters to reject last year's bond. The $20 million price tag was too high, he said. And the timing was rushed, in an even more uncertain economy than voters face today, he added.

Rogers said he believes shaving $3 million off the measure will make a difference to voters this time. The $17 million total translates to 29 cents per $1,000 of assessed value for Tigard homeowners. For the owner of a $207,000 home, that means approximately $60 per year in property taxes.

Helping pitch Measure 34-181 is the Portland-based Trust for Public Land. The agency also had a hand in crafting the measure and has negotiated possible transactions on the city's behalf in recent weeks.

The Tigard City Council unanimously voted in July to put the measure to voters again, despite some members' reservations. Councilor Nick Wilson suggested then an even lower price tag might sit better with voters, and the city risked losing support if it pushed too hard.

Wilson said this week he's heard opinions on both sides of the issue, though no organized opposition to the bond appears to have materialized. Still, financial uncertainty remains for many people.

"Obviously the economy isn't great, and we know that," Wilson said.

Regardless of this year's outcome, the measure is likely to see much higher turnout, as voters also choose a new governor and decide various congressional and local races.

Is that a good thing? Usually, Wilson said, but that's far from a sure thing.